Lu gets red-carpet welcome in El Salvador

WHIRLWIND TOUR The Vice President's arrival in San Salvador followed a stay in the US, where she was shown around NASA facilities by a Taiwanese-American astronaut

CNA , SAN SALVADOR

Vice President Annette Lu, second left, and Salvadoran Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Eduardo Calix, second right, smile at each other as she arrives in El Salvador on Monday, where she was greeted with military honors.

PHOTO: CNA

Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) arrived in San Salvador Monday after a three-day transit stop in Houston, Texas.

Lu received a red-carpet welcome complete with full military honors upon her arrival in the capital city of El Salvador for an official visit aimed at cementing diplomatic relations with the Central American ally and boosting bilateral trade and economic exchanges.

During a dinner with Taiwan expatriates in El Salvador, Lu said she is hopeful that Taiwan businessmen at home and in El Salvador can join forces to build an industrial park in El Salvador to accommodate Taiwan-funded firms, facilitating bilateral trade and economic cooperation.

Lu said the planned park should meet what she called the `Three P' goals, namely, the park should be "productive, environmentally protective and have perspective." Lu added that the park is expected to begin operation before the end of President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) presidential term in May 2008.

Lu was to attend a meeting yesterday to discuss details regarding the planned park with Salvadoran officials and business representatives, as well as inspect the planned site of the park.

On the last day of her transit stop in Houston, Lu paid a visit to NASA headquarters, where she received courteous treatment befitting a visitor of her status. She was granted the privilege of entering the Mission Control Center -- NASA's nerve center.

NASA sent a Taiwanese-American astronaut, Edward Tsang Lu, to guide Lu on a tour of Mission Control. Lu was also welcomed onto the flight deck of a space shuttle to get a rare glimpse into the interior of the spacecraft. The vice president also invited Edward Tsang Lu to visit Taiwan to help inspire local youths' interest in space technology.